Judge’s anger at depraved child torturer who forced boy, 7, to eat faeces and put his hand under boiling water

Adam King

An Aylesbury Crown Court judge told a sick child abuser who systematically tortured a seven-year-old boy that he was guilty of ‘unimaginable cruelty’ as she jailed him for 11 years.

Ben Stevens, 34, of no fixed abode, tortured the boy over a period of five months.

The case was heard at Aylesbury Crown Court

Evidence presented to court included that Stevens forced the child to drink his own vomit and faeces, and punched him repeatedly in the groin, causing skin damage.

The child lost his nasal septum after he was repeatedly pulled by it. He sustained multiple bruises to his arms, face and legs.

On May 10, 2013 the boy sustained a deep burn to his hand after it was forced under a hot water tap that was found to be running at 82C.

It took four days for the child, from Wycombe, to be given adequate medical attention and when the child was hospitalised he required morphine to assist with the pain before plastic surgery for the full thickness burn.

In summing up, Her Honour Judge Kristina Montgomery said it was ‘an act of unimaginable cruelty toward a child’ adding: “This once happy child was now profoundly disturbed. The defendant had ruined his childhood and in adulthood he will bear the scars.”

Stevens’ defence counsel said he feels ‘extremely sorry and if he could turn back the clock he would..the only thing he could offer was his early guilty pleas’.

Det Sgt Malcolm Wheeler of Thames Valley Police child abuse investigation unit said: “This was a sustained and systematic torture of a vulnerable child, which resulted in some of the worst injuries I have seen on a child in my career.

“Stevens is deemed to be a dangerous individual and I hope the lengthy time that he will have to spend in prison and on licence will give him a chance to reflect on what he has done and the repercussions that will continue in that child’s life.

“The victim is now being supported and it is hoped that with the right help he can put those months of cruelty behind him and get on with his life.”

Stevens was sentenced to nine years for the charge of wounding with intent and two years for the charge of cruelty to a child. Both sentences are to be served consecutively. As he was deemed a dangerous offender he had his sentence extended for a further three years these will be served on an extended licence.